North Penn committee advances 2025–26 extended school care tuition and camp fee increases
January 03, 2025 | North Penn SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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The North Penn School District Finance Committee voted to place the district's recommended 2025–26 Extended School Care tuition and summer camp rates on the Jan. 23 action meeting agenda.
Dr. O'Byrne, who presented the program update, told the committee the district operates extended school care at all 13 elementary schools and is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). She reviewed staffing ratios required by state licensing, annual and new-hire training requirements, substitute staffing and participation in the Keystone STARS quality-rating program.
Dr. O'Byrne said enrollment had risen from 753 at the start of the school year to 771 as of Jan. 1, and that the program continued to carry 53 children on a wait list at specific schools. She said 85 students currently receive county subsidy (up from 42 in 2021–22 and 68 in 2023–24) and that the program will continue to apply for grants through the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) and Keystone STARS add-ons to help low-income families.
As presented, the recommended 2025–26 school-age rates and summer camp fees reflect a 4.2% increase. Dr. O'Byrne compared the district's monthly five-day before-and-after-school tuition ($518 currently for families enrolled in both before and after care) with surrounding programs and center-based providers; she said area child-care centers that offer before/after programs averaged higher monthly charges and often assessed registration and in-service-day fees.
Committee members praised the program's increased summer-camp participation (from about 45 children to more than 200) and its added flexibility of two-, three- or five-day attendance options. The committee discussed steps to expand summer and in-service offerings as staffing allows.
A motion to place the tuition and camp rates on the Jan. 23 action meeting agenda passed (motion by Mrs. Stoll; second by Mrs. Rudnick; "Aye," motion carries). Dr. O'Byrne will return in May for the program's full budget presentation.
Dr. O'Byrne, who presented the program update, told the committee the district operates extended school care at all 13 elementary schools and is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). She reviewed staffing ratios required by state licensing, annual and new-hire training requirements, substitute staffing and participation in the Keystone STARS quality-rating program.
Dr. O'Byrne said enrollment had risen from 753 at the start of the school year to 771 as of Jan. 1, and that the program continued to carry 53 children on a wait list at specific schools. She said 85 students currently receive county subsidy (up from 42 in 2021–22 and 68 in 2023–24) and that the program will continue to apply for grants through the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) and Keystone STARS add-ons to help low-income families.
As presented, the recommended 2025–26 school-age rates and summer camp fees reflect a 4.2% increase. Dr. O'Byrne compared the district's monthly five-day before-and-after-school tuition ($518 currently for families enrolled in both before and after care) with surrounding programs and center-based providers; she said area child-care centers that offer before/after programs averaged higher monthly charges and often assessed registration and in-service-day fees.
Committee members praised the program's increased summer-camp participation (from about 45 children to more than 200) and its added flexibility of two-, three- or five-day attendance options. The committee discussed steps to expand summer and in-service offerings as staffing allows.
A motion to place the tuition and camp rates on the Jan. 23 action meeting agenda passed (motion by Mrs. Stoll; second by Mrs. Rudnick; "Aye," motion carries). Dr. O'Byrne will return in May for the program's full budget presentation.
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